How I escaped death, Oyegun tells APC

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday led other governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to attend the 75th birthday celebration of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun in Benin City.

Newly Elected National Chairman of APC Odigie-Oyegun at APC National Convention in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

APC governors at the colourful event includes Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun). Other dignitaries were former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki; Senator Chris Ngige, Alhaji Lai Muhammed and members of the Edo State Executive Council.

Oyegun who expressed gratitude to God for sparing his life till date, disclosed he almost had a fatal accident on his way to Minna, Niger State to attend a political campaign for the Niger-East senatorial by-election. Chief Odigie-Oyegun made this known during a thanksgiving service to mark his 75th birthday held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport Road, Benin.

He said while he was able to escape the

accident, his orderly who is currently lying injured in a hospital was not that lucky. The APC leader said he was able to escape the accident when he decided to travel by air, following an offer by a chieftain of the party and a former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, who asked him to join his (Saraki) flight.

“I thanked Senator Bukola Saraki, who cancelled his trip to Ilorin to go with me to Minna, when he heard that I was going to campaign for the senatorial seat in Niger-East. He offered four of us places in his plane on a 17-minute flight. But from Minna, my car was involved in a very serious accident, and my orderly is still in hospital today, recovering from injuries he received.

While appreciating the APC governors, party chieftains and members for their support, Odigie-Oyegun, described his survival as intervention of God at a critical time of his life. He also added that the celebration of his 75th birthday was an indication that his mission on earth was not.